What is a Corset?
In the world of lingerie, a corset can be the crowning jewel of your collection! But with so many similar-looking styles out there, how can you be sure to select the piece that will give you the dangerous curves that you desire? The following is a breakdown of terms that are often used interchangeably– and confusingly– with “corset”.
Girdle
Usually made of anything from stretchy lycra to pantyhose type material, girdles are a type of shapewear designed to focus on smoothing the waist and lower torso. While some styles feature plastic boning to add structure to the garment, girdles are are meant to provide “gentle-ish” smoothing. They cannot actually cinch your waist or provide much by way of lasting measurable or comfortable waist reduction. Girdles are worn almost exclusively as foundation garments underneath clothing.
Bodice
A bodice is a wonderful addition to a wardrobe either as lingerie or as a fashion piece. Bodices often come in overbust or underbust styles and lace up the back like corsets– making them a fantastic accent to an outfit. While these pieces can include either steel or plastic boning to give the garment structure and can provide limited shaping for certain figure types, bodices are not intended to be shapewear, cannot cinch in the waist and offer little by way of bust or back support.
Bustier
Underwear or outerwear, bustiers have a history of different functions in addition to exuding sex appeal. Bustiers often feature shaped cups and can be strapless, halter or spaghetti-strap style. They often have enough structure through combinations of panels, boning or underwire to enable them to be worn as shapewear if they are snug enough, but provide little by way of cinch or measurable waist reduction.
Corset
The corset has long been the most controversial yet coveted piece of the lingerie arsenal. A corset is a garment designed to hold and support the torso into a desired shape, usually for aesthetic purposes but occasionally for medical purposes through the use of boning and multiple layers of strong, supportive fabric. Most simply put, a good corset can measurably cinch and shape your waist, while offering comfortable support and reduction in ways that no other garment can.
There are as many styles and designs of corsets as there are reasons to wear them, and different styles of corsets will shape the body in unique ways. At Lotus Blooms, our corsets feature a variety of combinations of fabrics including sumptuous silks and satins, taffetas, beautiful brocades, delicate and feminine lace, buttery soft leather and sleek, shiny PVC. Certain styles of corsets can be worn in place of a bra and offer amazing, tantalizing bust support and cleavage; while other styles can be worn with the bra of your choice and focus on transforming your waistline for dramatic hourglass inspired curves.
Whatever style best suits your needs: a flirty, fashionable bodice, the divine bust enhancing bustier or the comely, elegant curves of the corset, we at Lotus Blooms are here to help you in your selections. Feel free to come by our beautiful boutique in Old Town Alexandria and see what new styles we have in store for you!
Girdle
Usually made of anything from stretchy lycra to pantyhose type material, girdles are a type of shapewear designed to focus on smoothing the waist and lower torso. While some styles feature plastic boning to add structure to the garment, girdles are are meant to provide “gentle-ish” smoothing. They cannot actually cinch your waist or provide much by way of lasting measurable or comfortable waist reduction. Girdles are worn almost exclusively as foundation garments underneath clothing.
Many bridal gowns have bodices.
Bustier
Underwear or outerwear, bustiers have a history of different functions in addition to exuding sex appeal. Bustiers often feature shaped cups and can be strapless, halter or spaghetti-strap style. They often have enough structure through combinations of panels, boning or underwire to enable them to be worn as shapewear if they are snug enough, but provide little by way of cinch or measurable waist reduction.
Corset
The corset has long been the most controversial yet coveted piece of the lingerie arsenal. A corset is a garment designed to hold and support the torso into a desired shape, usually for aesthetic purposes but occasionally for medical purposes through the use of boning and multiple layers of strong, supportive fabric. Most simply put, a good corset can measurably cinch and shape your waist, while offering comfortable support and reduction in ways that no other garment can.
There are as many styles and designs of corsets as there are reasons to wear them, and different styles of corsets will shape the body in unique ways. At Lotus Blooms, our corsets feature a variety of combinations of fabrics including sumptuous silks and satins, taffetas, beautiful brocades, delicate and feminine lace, buttery soft leather and sleek, shiny PVC. Certain styles of corsets can be worn in place of a bra and offer amazing, tantalizing bust support and cleavage; while other styles can be worn with the bra of your choice and focus on transforming your waistline for dramatic hourglass inspired curves.
Whatever style best suits your needs: a flirty, fashionable bodice, the divine bust enhancing bustier or the comely, elegant curves of the corset, we at Lotus Blooms are here to help you in your selections. Feel free to come by our beautiful boutique in Old Town Alexandria and see what new styles we have in store for you!
